The Song of Deborah and Barak
(Exodus 15:1–21)

1  וַתָּ֣שַׁר (And sang) דְּבוֹרָ֔ה (Deborah) וּבָרָ֖ק (and Barak) בֶּן־ (son) אֲבִינֹ֑עַם (of Abinoam) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הַה֖וּא (that), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

2  בִּפְרֹ֤עַ (When lead) פְּרָעוֹת֙ (leaders) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (in Israel),

בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב (when willingly offer themselves) עָ֑ם (the people),

בָּרֲכ֖וּ (bless) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

3  שִׁמְע֣וּ (Hear), מְלָכִ֔ים (O kings); הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ (give ear), רֹֽזְנִ֑ים (O princes);

אָֽנֹכִ֗י (I) לַֽיהוָה֙ (to YHWH), אָנֹכִ֣י (I), אָשִׁ֔ירָה (will sing).

אֲזַמֵּ֕ר (I will sing) לַֽיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH)

אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

4  יְהוָ֗ה (O YHWH), בְּצֵאתְךָ֤ (when You went out) מִשֵּׂעִיר֙ (from Seir),

בְּצַעְדְּךָ֙ (when You marched) מִשְּׂדֵ֣ה (from the field) אֱד֔וֹם (of Edom),

אֶ֣רֶץ (the earth) רָעָ֔שָׁה (trembled) גַּם־ (and) שָׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) נָטָ֑פוּ (poured down),

גַּם־ (also) עָבִ֖ים (the clouds) נָ֥טְפוּ (poured down) מָֽיִם׃ (water).

5  הָרִ֥ים (The mountains) נָזְל֖וּ (flowed) מִפְּנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH),

זֶ֣ה (this one) סִינַ֔י (Sinai)

מִפְּנֵ֕י (before the face) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH)

אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

6  בִּימֵ֞י (In the days) שַׁמְגַּ֤ר (of Shamgar) בֶּן־ (son) עֲנָת֙ (of Anath),

בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) יָעֵ֔ל (of Jael),

חָדְל֖וּ (were deserted) אֳרָח֑וֹת (the highways),

וְהֹלְכֵ֣י (and) נְתִיב֔וֹת (the travelers) יֵלְכ֕וּ (walked) אֳרָח֖וֹת (the ways) עֲקַלְקַלּֽוֹת׃ (crooked).

7  חָדְל֧וּ (Ceased) פְרָז֛וֹן (village life),

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (in Israel) חָדֵ֑לּוּ (it ceased),

עַ֤ד (until) שַׁקַּ֙מְתִּי֙ (I arose), דְּבוֹרָ֔ה (Deborah) שַׁקַּ֥מְתִּי (Arose),

אֵ֖ם (a mother) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

8  יִבְחַר֙ (They chose) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (gods) חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (new);

אָ֖ז (then) לָחֶ֣ם (there was war) שְׁעָרִ֑ים (in the gates).

מָגֵ֤ן (A shield) אִם־ (not) יֵֽרָאֶה֙ (was seen), וָרֹ֔מַח (or a spear)

בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (among forty) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

9  לִבִּי֙ (My heart is) לְחוֹקְקֵ֣י (with the rulers) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel),

הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֖ים (who offered themselves willingly) בָּעָ֑ם (among the people).

בָּרֲכ֖וּ (Bless) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH)!

10  רֹכְבֵי֩ (You who ride) אֲתֹנ֨וֹת (on donkeys) צְחֹר֜וֹת (white),

יֹשְׁבֵ֧י (who sit) עַל־ (in) מִדִּ֛ין (judges’ attire),

וְהֹלְכֵ֥י (and who walk) עַל־ (along) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (the road),

שִֽׂיחוּ׃ (ponder) 11  מִקּ֣וֹל (from the voice) מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים (of the singers)

בֵּ֚ין (between) מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים (the watering places).

שָׁ֤ם (There) יְתַנּוּ֙ (they shall recount) צִדְק֣וֹת (the righteous acts) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

צִדְקֹ֥ת (the righteous acts for) פִּרְזֹנ֖וֹ (His villagers) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel).

אָ֛ז (Then) יָרְד֥וּ (shall go down) לַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים (to the gates)

עַם־ (the people) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

12  עוּרִ֤י (Awake), עוּרִי֙ (awake), דְּבוֹרָ֔ה (O Deborah);

ע֥וּרִי (Awake), ע֖וּרִי (awake), דַּבְּרִי־ (sing) שִׁ֑יר (a song)!

ק֥וּם (Arise), בָּרָ֛ק (O Barak),

וּֽשֲׁבֵ֥ה (and lead away) שֶׁבְיְךָ֖ (your captives), בֶּן־ (O son) אֲבִינֹֽעַם׃ (of Abinoam).

13  אָ֚ז (Then) יְרַ֣ד (came down) שָׂרִ֔יד (the survivors) לְאַדִּירִ֖ים (to the nobles);

עָ֑ם (the people) יְהוָ֕ה (of YHWH) יְרַד־ (came down) לִ֖י (for me) בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ (against the mighty).

14  מִנִּ֣י (From) אֶפְרַ֗יִם (Ephraim) שָׁרְשָׁם֙ (their root) בַּעֲמָלֵ֔ק (is in Amalek),

אַחֲרֶ֥יךָ (after you) בִנְיָמִ֖ין (Benjamin), בַּֽעֲמָמֶ֑יךָ (with your peoples).

מִנִּ֣י (From) מָכִ֗יר (Machir) יָֽרְדוּ֙ (came down) מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔ים (commanders),

וּמִ֨זְּבוּלֻ֔ן (and from Zebulun) מֹשְׁכִ֖ים (those drawing) בְּשֵׁ֥בֶט (with the staff) סֹפֵֽר׃ (of a scribe).

15  וְשָׂרַ֤י (And the princes) בְּיִשָּׂשכָר֙ (of Issachar) עִם־ (were with) דְּבֹרָ֔ה (Deborah),

וְיִשָּׂשכָר֙ (and as Issachar), כֵּ֣ן (so was) בָּרָ֔ק (Barak);

בָּעֵ֖מֶק (into the valley) שֻׁלַּ֣ח (he was sent) בְּרַגְלָ֑יו (on his feet).

בִּפְלַגּ֣וֹת (Among the divisions) רְאוּבֵ֔ן (of Reuben)

גְּדֹלִ֖ים (were great) חִקְקֵי־ (decress) לֵֽב׃ (of the heart).

16  לָ֣מָּה (Why) יָשַׁ֗בְתָּ (did you sit) בֵּ֚ין (among) הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִם (the sheepfolds),

לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ (to hear) שְׁרִק֣וֹת (the pipings for) עֲדָרִ֑ים (the flocks)?

לִפְלַגּ֣וֹת (For the divisions) רְאוּבֵ֔ן (of Reuben)

גְּדוֹלִ֖ים (great) חִקְרֵי־ (were the searchings) לֵֽב׃ (of heart).

17  גִּלְעָ֗ד (Gilead) בְּעֵ֤בֶר (beyond) הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (the Jordan) שָׁכֵ֔ן (dwelt),

וְדָ֕ן (and Dan) לָ֥מָּה (why) יָג֖וּר (does he sojourn) אֳנִיּ֑וֹת (on ships)?

אָשֵׁ֗ר (Asher) יָשַׁב֙ (continued) לְח֣וֹף (at the) יַמִּ֔ים (seashore),

וְעַ֥ל (and by) מִפְרָצָ֖יו (his inlets) יִשְׁכּֽוֹן׃ (he dwelt).

18  זְבֻל֗וּן (ZEbulun is) עַ֣ם (a people) חֵרֵ֥ף (who exposed) נַפְשׁ֛וֹ (its soul) לָמ֖וּת (to death)

וְנַפְתָּלִ֑י (and Naphtali) עַ֖ל (on) מְרוֹמֵ֥י (the heights) שָׂדֶֽה׃ (of the field).

19  בָּ֤אוּ (Came) מְלָכִים֙ (the kings)— נִלְחָ֔מוּ (they fought);

אָ֤ז (then) נִלְחֲמוּ֙ (fought) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) כְנַ֔עַן (of Canaan) בְּתַעְנַ֖ךְ (in Taanach)

עַל־ (by) מֵ֣י (the waters) מְגִדּ֑וֹ (of Megiddo);

בֶּ֥צַע (spoils) כֶּ֖סֶף (of silver) לֹ֥א (not) לָקָֽחוּ׃ (they took).

20  מִן־ (From) שָׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) נִלְחָ֑מוּ (fought) הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙ (the stars);

מִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔ם (from their courses) נִלְחֲמ֖וּ (they fought) עִם־ (against) סִיסְרָֽא׃ (Sisera).

21  נַ֤חַל (The torrent) קִישׁוֹן֙ (of Kishon) גְּרָפָ֔ם (swept them away),

נַ֥חַל (the torrent) קְדוּמִ֖ים (ancient), נַ֣חַל (the torrent) קִישׁ֑וֹן (of Kishon).

תִּדְרְכִ֥י (March on) נַפְשִׁ֖י (O my soul), עֹֽז׃ (in strength).

22  אָ֥ז (Then) הָלְמ֖וּ (pounded) עִקְּבֵי־ (the hooves) ס֑וּס (of horses),

מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת (from the galloping) דַּהֲר֥וֹת (the galloping) אַבִּירָֽיו׃ (of its mighty ones).

23  א֣וֹרוּ (Curse) מֵר֗וֹז (Meroz), אָמַר֙ (said) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH).

אֹ֥רוּ (Cursing) אָר֖וֹר (curse) יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ (its dwellers),

כִּ֤י (because) לֹֽא־ (not) בָ֙אוּ֙ (they did come) לְעֶזְרַ֣ת (to the aid) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

לְעֶזְרַ֥ת (to the aid) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ (against the mighty).

24  תְּבֹרַךְ֙ (Most blessed is) מִנָּשִׁ֔ים (above women) יָעֵ֕ל (Jael)

אֵ֖שֶׁת (the wife) חֶ֣בֶר (of Heber) הַקֵּינִ֑י (the Kenite),

מִנָּשִׁ֥ים (above women) בָּאֹ֖הֶל (in the tent) תְּבֹרָֽךְ׃ (she is blessed).

25  מַ֥יִם (Water) שָׁאַ֖ל (he requested); חָלָ֣ב (milk) נָתָ֑נָה (she gave),

בְּסֵ֥פֶל (in a bowl) אַדִּירִ֖ים (Magnificent) הִקְרִ֥יבָה (she brought out) חֶמְאָֽה׃ (curds).

26  יָדָהּ֙ (Her hand) לַיָּתֵ֣ד (to the tent peg) תִּשְׁלַ֔חְנָה (she stretched),

וִֽימִינָ֖הּ (and her right hand) לְהַלְמ֣וּת (to the hammer) עֲמֵלִ֑ים (of workmen),

וְהָלְמָ֤ה (and she pounded) סִֽיסְרָא֙ (Sisera), מָחֲקָ֣ה (she pierced) רֹאשׁ֔וֹ (his head),

וּמָחֲצָ֥ה (and she shattered) וְחָלְפָ֖ה (and pierced through) רַקָּתֽוֹ׃ (his temple).

27  בֵּ֣ין (Between) רַגְלֶ֔יהָ (her feet) כָּרַ֥ע (he sank), נָפַ֖ל (he fell),

שָׁכָ֑ב (he lay still);

בֵּ֤ין (between) רַגְלֶ֙יהָ֙ (her feet) כָּרַ֣ע (he sank), נָפָ֔ל (he fell);

בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) כָּרַ֔ע (he sank), שָׁ֖ם (there) נָפַ֥ל (he fell) שָׁדֽוּד׃ (dead).

28  בְּעַד֩ (Through) הַחַלּ֨וֹן (the window) נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה (looked) וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב (and cried out) אֵ֥ם (the mother) סִֽיסְרָ֖א (of Sisera),

בְּעַ֣ד (through) הָֽאֶשְׁנָ֑ב (the lattice),

מַדּ֗וּעַ (Why) בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ (is long) רִכְבּוֹ֙ (his chariot) לָב֔וֹא (in coming)?

מַדּ֣וּעַ (Why) אֶֽחֱר֔וּ (do tarry) פַּעֲמֵ֖י (the hoofbeats) מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו׃ (of his chariots)?

29  חַכְמ֥וֹת (The wisest) שָׂרוֹתֶ֖יהָ (of her princesses) תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה (answered her);

אַף־ (indeed), הִ֕יא (she) תָּשִׁ֥יב (returns) אֲמָרֶ֖יהָ (her words) לָֽהּ׃ (herself).

30  הֲלֹ֨א (Do not) יִמְצְא֜וּ (they find) יְחַלְּק֣וּ (and divide) שָׁלָ֗ל (the loot):

רַ֤חַם (A womb) רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙ (or two wombs) לְרֹ֣אשׁ (for every) גֶּ֔בֶר (man)

שְׁלַ֤ל (loot) צְבָעִים֙ (of dyed garments) לְסִ֣יסְרָ֔א (for Sisera),

שְׁלַ֥ל (loot) צְבָעִ֖ים (of dyed garments) רִקְמָ֑ה (embroidered), צֶ֥בַע (dyed) רִקְמָתַ֖יִם (two pieces of embroidery)

לְצַוְּארֵ֥י (for the neck) שָׁלָֽל׃ (of the looter)?

31  כֵּ֠ן (So) יֹאבְד֤וּ (let perish), כָל־ (all) אוֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ (Your enemies),

יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH),

וְאֹ֣הֲבָ֔יו (and let those who love Him be) כְּצֵ֥את (like the going forth)

הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ (of the sun) בִּגְבֻרָת֑וֹ (in full strength).

וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט (And had rest) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) שָׁנָֽה׃פ (years).